Thread cases for sewing machine loop-takers



THREAD CASES FOR SEWING MACHINE LOOP TAKERS Filed Dec. 29, 1952 III 2 mm III/Ill III/IIII/l 21 13 I 10 %fid George J fleclenLsvain Patented Nov. 20, 1934 THREAD CASES FOR SEWING MACHINE LOOP-TAKERS George A. Fleckenstein, Stratford, Conn., assignor to TheSinger Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application December 29, 1932, Serial No. 649,317

' 21 Claims. (Cl.:1l22 31) I This invention relates toiimprovements thread-cases: for sewing machineloop-takers and has for an object to provide readily releasable means for securely locking together the component sections of a thread-case. A further obect of the invention is to provide convenient m parent from the following description and claims.

The invention consists in the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a sewing machine loop-taker, with the thread-case therein in side elevation. Fig. 2 represents a top-plan view of the thread-case. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the thread-case, substantially on the broken line 33 of Fig.2. Fig. 4 represents a bottom plan view of the cap-section of the thread-case. Fig. 5 represents a top perspective View of the cap-section with the latch device in released position. Fig. 6 represents a top perspective View of the base-section of the thread-case. Fig. '7

represents perspective views of the cap-section and-a cop shown detached from the cap-section, and illustrating the lead of the thread from the center of the cop to the thread-guide within said cap-section.

Referring to the drawing, the sewing machine loop-taker employed for cooperation with a vertically reciprocatory. needle 1 may be of any usual or suitable construction, Fig. 1 illustrating a looptaker of the vertical-axis rotary hook type and disclosed more fully, for example, in the U. S. patent to W. N. Parkes, No. 1,'763,670, June 1'7, 1930. In general, the loop-taker shown in the accompanying drawing has an outer cylindrical "body 2 formed at its upper end with an inwardly directed flange 3 spaced from a similar flange 4 constituting the upper'rim of an inner looptaker body 5 to which the outer body 2 is secured by screws 6. The flanges 3 and 4 of the looptaker define therebetween a raceway in which is journaled a bearing-rib '7 upon the periphery of a base-section 8 of a two-part thread-case comprising said base-section and acap-section 9.

The base-secti0n 8 of the thread-case is cupshaped, having a cylindrical side wall 10 open at its top, and in the present instance provided with a bottom closing or end wall 11 free of internal projections. The bearing-rib '7 of the base-section 8 is interrupted to provide a thread-loop arresting shoulderlzand an opposed shoulder 13 defining therebetween' a' thread-loop clearance gap.v Below the bearing rib 7 and slightly rearwardly of the shoulder 12in the direction of rotation of the loop-taker, the side wall 10 of the base section'is' provided with an auxiliary hook 14 which functions to. detain one limb of the needle-thread loop and thereby assist in casting said loop about the bottom of the threadcase.- J

Above the bearing rib '7, the base-section side wall is provided with a notch 15 for the recep tion of a stationary stop-member (not shown) serving to restrain the thread-case against rotation with the loop-taker. At one side of. the notch 15,.the base-section 8 has an upwardly inclined flange ,16 terminating in the upper rim of the sidewall 10, said flangeassisting in: the casting of alimb of the needlethread loop about the upper face of the thread-case. The flange 16 is preferably provided with a plurality of oil-wells 17 of the character disclosed more fully in the U. S. patent to W. N. ParkesNo. 1,698,965, Jan. 15', 1929. v

At the other. side of the notch 15, theside wall 10 of the base-section above the bearing rib 7 is cut away to provide a cap-locating, notch defined by the downwardly inclined'shoulder 18' and the opposed shoulder 19 of said side wall 10. Directly adjacent to said shoulder'19 and also at a point diametrically opposite, the side wall 10 is providedabove the bearing-rib '7 with apertures 20 and 21 of which the walls/serve as'latchkeepers. The flange 16 terminates at one end in a shoulder 22 engageable by an opener-finger .(not shown) vto open a thread-loop passage past the thread-case rotation restraining means before mentioned. v I v I While it will beobserved from the foregoing descriptionthat the base-section of the threadcase contains many of the constructive features of the bobbin-carrier of theParkes Patents Nos. 1,698,965 and 1,763,670, the present thread-case additionally includes the cup-shaped cap-section 9. This cap-section 9 has a cylindrical side-wall 23 open at its bottom and fitting into the basesection 8. The cap-section 9 has a top-closing end wall 24 which in the present instance is integral with the side wall 23. To the inner face of the end' wall 24 is brazed. or otherwise flatwise secured a. disk 25 of which a substantially semicircular segment is reduced in thickness to provide a tongue 26 spaced from the inner face of the top wall 24. The segmental tongue 26 is also cut away peripherally so that its free edge 27 is spaced slightly from the cap-section side wall 23. In addition, the tongue 26 is provided with an arcuate threading slit 28 beginning in the edge of the tongue at the point of its juncture with the thicker portion of the disk 25 and terminating at substantially the center of said disk, i. e., centrally within the cap-section body in a thread-guiding pocket 28'. As illustrated more particularly in Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawing, the peripheral edge 2'7 and one of the side edges of the slit 28 of the tongue 26 meet in a pointed nose 29 extending into but spaced from the edges of a vertically inclined threading slot 30 formed in the side wall 23 of the cap-section and extending from the lower rim thereof. The thread-guide 28 connects the thread-cavity of the cap-section with the thread-channel formed by spacing the tongue 26 from the end wall 24.

Substantially diametrically opposite to its slot 30, the cap-section side wall 23 is provided with a vertically inclined threading slit 31 beginning in the lower edge of said side wall and running past the edge 27 of the segmental tongue 26, at a point directly adjacent to the thicker portion of the disk 25. The slit 31 extends into a segmental fiange 32 projecting radially outwardly beyond the side wall 23 of the cap-section from the top wall thereof. The flange 32 is adapted to fit into the base-section rim notch between the shoulders 18 and 19 to thereby definitely locate the cap-section in the base-section. Secured by screws 33 upon the flange 32 is a tensionspring 34 which extends across the threading slit 31 and has at one end a thread-delivery notch 35. The threading slit 31 is preferably inclined upwardly toward the tension-spring notch to facilitate threading of the cap-section.

Slidingly disposed in undercut alined guideways 36 and 37 provided in the upper face of the cap-section end wall 24 are oppositely directed latch-members 38 and 39 shouldered at their outer ends to provide latch-lugs 40 and 41 adapted to enter the keeper-apertures 20 and 21 of the base-section. The latch-members 38 and 39 are retained in their guideways by having side flanges slidably disposed in the undercut portions of the guideways, said latch-members being also provided at one of their side edges and at adjacent ends thereof with abutment shoulders 42 and 43 acted upon by opposed springs 44 and 45. The springs 44 and 45 are housed within said end wall 24, being disposed in a bore 46 extending across the wall 24 adjacent to the guideways 36 and 37. The springs 44 and 45 are confined within the bore 46 by screws 47 threaded into the opposite ends of the bore, said screws 47 also providing for adjustment of the pressures of said springs.

Interposed between the adjacent ends of the latch-members 38 and 39 is a cam-arm 48 of an angular latch-lever 48, 49, said cam-arm 48 being pivotally supported by a pivot-pin 50 extending transversely of the guideways 36 and 37. The pivot-pin 50 is disposed in the cap-section end wall 24 so that the latch-lever cam-arm 48 is substantially flush with the upper face of the end wall 24 in the keeper-engaging positions of the latch-members 38 and 39, said latch-lever 48, 49 being disposed in an angular clearance recess 52 provided in the outer face of the end wall 24. The operating arm 49 of the latchlever is adapted to enter a portion of the recess 52 directly adjacent and parallel to the guideway 36 of the latch-member 38, a stop-pin 54 in the bottom of said recess 52 positioning the operating arm 49 substantially flush with the end wall 24 in the closed position of the latch. The free end of the latch-arm 49 is preferably made segmental to conform with the circular side wall 23 of the cap-section, and is also preferably beveled on its under side so that it may be more conveniently picked up. The upper rim of the base-sectionside-wall is also preferably beveled adjacent to the free end of the latch-arm to facilitate access to said latch-arm.

The present thread-case is particularly adapted for use with a thread-cop 55 adapted to snugly fit the side walls of the cap-section 9 and having its thread so wound that it may be freely drawn from the center of the cop. Before placing the cop 55 in the cap-section, a suitable length of thread is drawn from the center of the cop, passed into the threading slot 30 and under the nose 29 of the tongue 26, about the edge 27 of the latter into the channel between the end wall 24 and the tongue 26, through the threading slit 31 and under the tension-spring 34 to the delivery notch 35 thereof. In the retracted position of the latch-members 38 and 39, the latch-lever 48, 49 is edgewise substantially vertical, the arm 49 thereof affording convenient means for grasping the cap-section to insert it in the base-section and to remove it therefrom. After the cap-section has been threaded as described and the cop 55 has been placed therein, the cap-section is inserted into the base-section with the lower edge of the cap-section side wall 23 preferably engaging the bottom wall 11 of the base-section. Of course, the insertion of the cap-section into the base-section can only be completed when the segmental flange 32 is positioned to enter the notch between the shoulders 18 and 19 of the base-section, and when thus positioned, the latchmember lugs 40 and 41 are in alinement with the keeper-apertures 20 and 21 of the base-section. By nowturning the latch-lever down,'the arm 48 of said latch-lever cams the latch-members outwardly to lock together the component sections of the thread-case. The latch-members and the latch-lever are substantially flush with the outer face of the cap-section end wall when the cap-section is latched to the base-section, and accordingly the latch-members do not im pede the passing of the needle-thread loop about the thread-case by the loop-taker. By the described threading arrangement, the thread supplied by the cop 55 is drawn constantly against the end of the slot 28 centrally of the threadcase. Consequently the thread is always drawn from the exact center of the cop with a kink straightening action and a minimum tendency to, snarl, regardless of the increasing size of the cop aperture as the thread is drawn therefrom.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:-

1. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, comprising a base-section having a cylindrical side wall provided with a keeper, a capsection adapted to be associated with said basesection in thread-mass confining relationship and having an end wall, a latch-member slidably disposed upon said cap-section end wall for engagement with said keeper, a latch-member operating lever pivotally mounted upon said cap-section end wall and disposed in substantially the plane of said latch-member in the keeper-engaging position of the latch-member, and a spring acting in opposition to said lever to yieldingly retract said latch-member from keeper-engaging position.

2. A thread-case for sewing machine loopmuse;

takers, comprising a base-section havingacylindrical side wall providedwith a keeper, a capsection having acylindrical sidewall interfltting with said base-section side wall and having an end wall providedin one face thereof with a guideway and an angular clearance recess intersecting said guideway,'a latch-member slidably disposed in said guideway substantially flush with said face of the capsection end wall for engage ment with said keeper, and an angular latchmember operating lever pivotally mounted upon said cap-section end wall and disposed in said clearance recess substantially flush with'said face of the cap-section end wall in the keeper engagsaid keeper, a-latch-member operating lever piv-.

otally mounted upon said cap-section end wall, said lever having a cam-arm in engagement with said latch-member and having an operating arm disposed at one side and substantially in the plane of said latch-member in the keeper-engaging position of the latchmember, and a' spring housed within said cap-section end wall acting to yieldingly retract said latch-member from keeper-engaging position. Y

4. A thread-case for sewing machine 'looptakers, comprising separable base and cap thread-case sections,'and means for securing-one of said thread-case sections to the" other in thread-mass confining relationship comprising a plurality, of latch-members, keepers for said latch-members, and a manually operable actu ating lever disposed to operatively engage said latch-members. 5.'A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, comprising separable base 3 and cap thread-case sections, means forsecuring one of said thread-case sections to the other in threadmass confining relationship comprising aipluf rality of latch-members, keepers for said latch: members, a manually operable actuating lever disposed to simultaneously engage said latchmembers, and guiding means for insuring a predetermined associated relationship of said thread-case sections. 6. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, comprising separable base and cap thread-case sections, a plurality of latch-members carried by said cap-section, a plurality of keepers upon said base-section for engagement by said latch-members, and single manually operable means for effecting engagement of said latch-members with said keepers.

7. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, comprising separable base and cap thread-case sections, a plurality of oppositely directed latch-members slidably disposed upon one of said sections, keepers upon the other section other section for engagement by said latchunembers, manually operable means for effecting engag'ement of said latch-memberswith said keepers andmeans acting'to yieldingly oppose keeper-engaging movements of said latch-members.

A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, comprising separable base and cap thread-case'section's, a plurality of oppositely directed-latoh members-uponone of said sections, keepers upon-the other" section for engagement by {said latch-members, 'and'a latch-lever disposedjbetween said latch-members and operable to simultaneously move said latch-members into engagement with said keepers'.

j10 A-thread-case for sewing machine looptakers', comprising separable base and cap thread-case sections, a plurality of oppositely directed latch-members upon one of said sections, keepers upon the other section for engagement by'said latch-members, a latch-lever disposed between saidlatch-members and operable to simultaneously movesaid latch-members in opposite directions into keeper-engagin positionan'd means acting to yieldingly oppose the keeper engaging movements of said latch-members;

11. A'threa'd-case forsewing machinelooptakers, comprising separable base and cap thread-case sections having cylindrical interfitting side-walls and opposed end' walls defining a thread-mass cavity, a plurality of oppositely directed latch-members slidablydispo'sed in substantial alinement diametrically upon the capsection end'wall, a plurality of keepers for said latch-members upon said base-section, and a latch-lever operable to move said latch-members in opposite directions' into engagement with said keepers. I 1 r v 12-. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers,"- comprising a base-section [provided witha plurality of keepers, a cap-section adapted tobe associated withsaid base-section in threadmass jconfining relationship and having an end wall, a plurality of'la'tch-membersarranged substantially flush-with aface 'of' said cap-section end WalL'and single 'manually' operable means for effecting engagement of said latch-members with said'keepers. 1

" i3. A thread-case forsewing machine looptakers, comprising abase-section provided with a pluralityof keepersfa cap-section adapted to be associatedwith said base-section in threadmass confining=relationship, a plurality of latchmembers slidably disposed upon said cap-section end wall' subs'tantially" flush with the outer face of said wall for engagement with said keepers, and an operating lever for said latch-members disposed substantially flush with said outer face of the cap-section end wall in the keeper engaging positions of said latch-members.

14. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, comprising a base-section having a cylindrical side wall provided with diametrically opposed keepers, a cap-section having a cylindrical side wall interfitting with said base-section side wall and having an end walldiametrically provided with alined guideways, oppositely directed latch-members slidably disposed in said guidewaysfor engagement with said base-section keepers, a latch-member operating lever pivotally supported between adjacent ends of said latchmembers, and springs arranged to yieldingly oppose the movements of said latch-members into keeper engaging positions thereof.

15. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, comprising a base-section having a cylindrical side wall provided with a plurality of keepers, a cap-section having a cylindrical side wall interfitting with said base-section side wall and having an end wall, oppositely directed latchmernbers slidably disposed upon said cap-section end wall substantially flush with a face of said wall for engagement with said keepers, an angular latch-lever pivotally mounted upon said end wall to assume a position substantially flush with said face of the wall and having a cam-arm disposed between adjacent ends of said latch-members for effecting sliding movements of said latchmembers into keeper engaging positions, and springs housed within said cap-section end wall acting to yieldingly oppose the movements of said latch-members into keeper engaging positions thereof.

16. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, including a thread-cavity defining cupshaped body having a cylindrical side wall and an end wall integral with said side wall, a threadguide disposed centrally within said body adjacent to and spaced from said end wall at the thread-cavity side thereof, said side wall having a threading slit extending from the rim at the open end of said cup-shaped body toward said end wall, and thread-tensioning means carried by said body.

17. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, including a thread-cavity defining cupshaped body having a cylindrical side Wall and an end wall integral with said side wall, a tongue disposed within said body adjacent to and spaced from said end wall, said tongue having a threading slit extending from one edge of the tongue and terminating in a thread-guide disposed centrally within said body, and said side wall having a threading slit extending from the rim at the open end of said cup-shaped body toward said 1 end wall.

18. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, including a thread-cavity defining cupshaped body having a cylindrical side wall and an end wall, said end wall being recessed edgewise to provide a segmental tongue substantially posed centrally-within said body, and said side Wall having a threading slit extending from the rim at the open end of said cup-shaped body into the plane of said thread-channel.

19. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, including a thread-cavity defining cupshaped body having a cylindrical sidewall and an end wall, a thread-guide disposed centrally within said body adjacent to and spaced from said end wall at the thread-cavity side thereof, said side wall having a threading slit extending from the rim at the open end of said cup-shaped body toward said end wall, and a tension-spring upon the outer face of said body overlying said threading slit. 1

20. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers, including a thread-cavity defining cup- Ishaped body having a cylindrical side wall provided with a threading slotand a threading slit, and an end wall, a tongue disposed within said body in spaced relation to said end wall to provide a thread-channel between said tongue and end wall leading to said side wall threading slit, said tongue being spaced from said side wall and having a threading slit extending from an edge thereof to a thread-guide connecting the cap-section thread-cavity with said thread-channel substantially centrally of said thread-cavity, and the threading slit in said tongue extending into said side wall threading slot.

21. A thread-case for sewing machine looptakers comprising a cup-shaped base-section having a cylindrical side wall and an end wall, a cup-shaped cap-section separable from said basesection having a cylindrical side wall adapted to enter said base-section and having an end wall opposed to the base-section end wall to define a thread-cavity between said end walls, said capsection side wall having a threading slit and a threading slot extending from the rim of the cupshaped body thereof toward its end wall, a tongue disposed within said cap-section body in spaced relation to the end wall thereof to provide a thread-channel between said tongue and the capsection end wall leading to said side wall threading slit, said tongue being spaced from said side wall of the cap-section and having a threading slit extending from an edge of the tongue to a thread-guide connecting the cap-section threadcavity with said thread-channel substantially centrally of said thread-cavity, the threading slit in said tongue extending into said threading slot in the cap-section side wall, and a thread-tension spring upon the outer face of said cap-section in position to receive thread passing through said side wall threading slit from said cap-section thread-channel.

GEORGE A. FLECKENSTEIN. 

